March 24, 2014

Smothered Chicken Casserole

I think I’m going to start awarding recipes a “God Bless America” title when they’re really really amazing. Remember when I made the Cajun Cake and it was so good all I could say was God bless America, that’s good so that’s what I ended up renaming the cake?

Well, when I ate this smothered chicken today I had the same experience. The kids loved it. Husband loved it. And I loved it. I mean like loved it loved it. There was not one bit of this left when we were done with it. The kids were using their bread to sop up the cheesy bits of potatoes from the bottom of the dish when we were done. I didn't even have to rinse the casserole before I put it in the dishwasher.

The bottom layer is like potatoes au gratin then it’s topped with tender, flavorful chicken and bacon and it’s all smothered in cheese. I mean, come on! Talk about a home run for your taste buds! And the best part? It’s all wrapped up in a perfect casserole.

Before I tell you about the recipe, let me tell you how it is that I came to cook it. My pal, Stacey Little from Southern Bite, just published a cookbook! And I have the honor of reviewing it and hosting a giveaway (details below)!

The way this usually works is that I read through the cookbook, pick out a recipe to cook, make it, tell y’all about it and then host a giveaway. As I was leafing through the book (which is chocked FULL of amazing, easy Southern recipes) I came across Stacey’s Easy Smothered Chicken and just knew I had to make it!

I bought all the stuff I needed to make it and then had an idea. Stacey’s recipe doesn't have potatoes but I got to thinking that all that creamy goodness could easily work with sliced potatoes to make a casserole.

And I’m one of those folks who, if I've got to turn my oven on, I’m getting as much out of it as possible! Deciding to use potatoes and make a casserole caused me to make a few other changes as well so what I ended up with isn't exactly like Stacey’s recipe.

But they’re definitely close. Like cousins. Like first cousins. Who are buddies.

If you love comfort food casseroles like this one, check out a few of these recipes too!

ingredients

instructions

Combine cheese soup and milk then whisk until smooth. Reserve 1 cup of cheese soup mixture and set aside to use later.

Wash and peel potatoes then cut into thin slices (about 1/4 inch thick). Spray the bottom and sides of a 3-quart 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon 1/4 of the cheese soup mixture into the bottom of the dish. Add a single layer of potato slices. Season potatoes with salt and pepper. Spoon another 1/4 of soup mixture over potatoes. Repeat this process two more times so that you have three layers of potatoes topped with soup mixture. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, slice bacon into 1/2-inch strips and cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until bacon is browned and crispy. Remove bacon pieces from skillet with a slotted spoon; set aside.

Season chicken tenderloins with salt and pepper then sauté in bacon drippings over medium-high heat until lightly browned (we’re not trying to cook them through, just get a nice sear on each side); set aside.

Remove dish from oven and uncover. Arrange chicken tenderloins on top of potatoes and pour reserved cheese soup mixture over chicken. Cover tightly again and continue cooking for 30 more minutes.

Remove dish from oven and uncover. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over chicken and potatoes then top with bacon pieces. Return dish to oven and continue cooking, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

NOTES:

Though I have made this many many times and never had this issue (and though an hour is plenty time for three layers of thinly sliced potatoes to cook) a few folks have reported having to cook their casserole longer for the potatoes to get done. Be sure your potatoes are only 1/4" thick and that you only have three layers. If potatoes are not par-cooked and somewhat tender after the first 30-minute cook time, cover again and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes before adding the chicken.

As of 2015 Campbell's Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup is totally different in Canada than it is in the US. I used it last week on vacation and was shocked at the difference. The colour (you like I spelled it like you do, right?), texture and flavour (and again) are different but it should still work. I just can't promise it will be as delicious. Boo. Yo, Campbell's, what's up with that??

I used Monterrey Jack because I thought the white cheese would be a nice contrast to the cheddar soup mixture but feel free to use whatever's handy!

To win a copy of Stacey Little’s, The Southern Bite Cookbook, simply leave a comment below with your email address (just one comment per email address, please). If you’re not comfy doing that, you’re more than welcome to send me an email at southyourmouth@aol.com with “The Southern Bite Cookbook” as the subject and you’ll be entered.Done and done! Easy-peasy, bo-deasy!I will randomly select and email the winner after 4PM EST on Monday, March 31, 2014.Giveaway Rules:Giveaway starts today Monday, March 24, 2014 and ends Friday, Monday, March 31, 2014. Contest is open to US residents only.Winner will have 72 hours to reply to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

I ran across your blog a few weeks ago and absolutely love it!! Chicken Scratch is amazing!! We have used it many times already including yesterday on grilled butt chicken after our beloved Wichita State lost to Kentucky! Sigh! Thanks for all your creativity, humor, and great recipes! kpalecki@cox.net

Made your pimento cheese recipe yesterday for a family gathering and it was the hit of the event! Plan to try the Smothered Chicken next, and would love to win a copy of your friends new cookbook.Thanks

The recipe looks so yummy.....but unfortunately I can't eat potatoes, I know I know it's awful. I looked at Stacy's version and will try that one. I would LOVE to win her book and see what other recipes she has.

Wow! Talk about "good timing" -- opened my email and read (and drooled over!) this recipe just as I hit the "what are we gonna have for supper" (original plans fell through 'cause we got a "mom, can you babysit..." call! LOL) Looks amazingly scrumptious! Thanks! SueL5775@yahoo.com

I love your South My Mouth and will be cooking way more than usual because of the delicious sounding recipes! I love to try new recipes and would love to win the cookbook! barbara.gamble@rocketmail.com

I would LOVE this cookbook! I collect cookbooks & use them often to try new dishes. I would love to add this book to my collection. I know there will be a lot of recipes I will want to try. Grammagale@hotmail.com

You are MY kind of cook! I recently discovered you...oh my! Hubby will be happppppy with the luciousness I am about to give him! I would LOVE your cookbook! I have to have a cookbook or recipe card in front of me. The iPad just doesn't cut it!Fcampbell61@gmail.com

I stumbled upon your blog and I am so happy to have found you. I love to cook, and I have been stalking your page everyday since I found it. :) Stalk in a good way!!! Once seeing this recipe I had to check out Stacey's...make that 2 new webpages to stalk for new recipes!ecital01@yahoo.com

I collect cookbooks and I would love to add this to my collection.....I will be trying this soon as I can get to the store for the chicken and the can of soup...It looks so good and I'm sure there would be a lot of great dishes in the book to try...Thanks for this one....rebbiedog@yahoo.com

love love love cookbooks!! My husband always complains when I buy a new one...till I make a yummy recipe out of it!! We're making this smothered chicken and cheesy potatoes tonight for supper!!lalena98@yahoo.com

My son is a cheeseaholic, I think he would love this!! I cook dinner every Sunday for my family and I think I will try this. We would love your recipes. What is the recipe for the shrimp and mash potatoe recipe that is pictured on the top of this page??? Looks delicious!! Please pick me.....Thanks, Mona luisi6@comcast.net

My husband and I are picking up a new "onion" Saturday for our home. My nephew (7 yrs) will be coming to live with us and he loves to help in the kitchen. This will be a fun recipe to do together. (I'll handle the slicing of course). Thanks for the stories and recipes. And the GiveAways of course!! deana.muth@yahoo.com

Making this on Sunday! My husband & I always have a Race Day Feast and he saw this & begged me to make :) Love trying any recipe you suggest! Thank you for all your great recipes! kerrimorgan@hotmail.com

I would love to win your cookbook the recipes look delicious, for supper tonight i am having the cheese potatoes and bacon i got hungry just looking at it.. Thank you for the interesting recipes... grandmaginnie1@verizon.net

Cooking has alway's been a thing I've loved doing FOREVER! Looking for YUMMY recipe's is another, so i'm so happy I ran across your web site. I LOVE it, you really got it going on! I just read the recipe for The Smothered Chicken and can't wait to try it. I'm praying right now i'll be a winner of your friend's cookbook since I collect them and this one sound's EXCELLENT! Thank's for being here for all of us, I really enjoy you!!!!gagirl6009@yahoo.com Patricia Pollard

The Smothered Chicken recipe looks so delicious and am anxious to try it. I came across this from Ziplist as it was a recipe of the day type of thing. Anyway, am always looking for new ways to fix chicken. Would love to win the cookbook as well because anything Southern has to be good!

I am going to make the God Bless America Cake for dinner tonight, but I got distracted by the picture of the smothered chicken recipe. The potatoes seem like a great addition to make it a meal (and maybe stretch it if the need arises). Yum dhemp57@hotmail.com

I just found your website yesterday and Smothered Chicken is the 3rd recipe I've tried all ready. My only complaint is there were no leftovers! Love your site and your writing keeps me in stitches. I can't wait to try some of the other recipes.

Tried this on my family last week and they loved it also suggested putting mushrooms in it too which I will try next time and in also going to try it in the crockpot because im not a fan of turning my oven on in the warm weather! Keep them coming

Hey there! I came to your blog chasing down the Smothered Chicken recipe... saw the shrimp and grits photo banner and had to look that up to add to my menu for the week. Then, the tab titled Random Crap caught my eye so I ventured into there and had such a fun time reading your writing that I just had to let you know! It is always great to meet ppl with whom I can relate. Thanks for sharing your life so that others can be uplifted, enlightened, entertained, and even inspired! Your life is multifaceted artistry :)

Hi I am new to your blog and just read over the recipe and I can't wait to try it but I think I am going to leave out the onions and in some wonderful sautéed mushrooms that was cooked in that bacon well sounds yummy and I can't wait to try more of your recipes keep your blogs coming.

Made this today for dinner. Very good but the potatoes took forever to cook. Baked it for 1 1/2 hours total and they were still slightly under done. Next time I will parboil the potato slices before assembling the casserole.

I made this last night for my family and it was a HUGE success! I used a Rotisserie Chicken seasoning on the chicken when I was searing it which made it absolutely to die for. I also added the bacon and the cheese when I added the chicken (missed that I was supposed to wait) and baked it for 45 minutes after the chicken was added and it still turned out fabulous. The chicken was so moist. Great recipe! My family thanks you.

This dish had me at bacon...what is not to like...I have chicken and bacon in my freezer the rest in my pantry....I'm making it tonight...Thanks so much for sharing .... I know my family will enjoy it. baandbb@gmail.com

Hi there! While I'm not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven't been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments. And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y'all! - Mandy